Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-06-10
HAYES AND THE pnEslDENcY.
How he was Nominated for Governor
OF Ohio In 1878, and how that Led to
his Election ns President.

OF Ohio In 1873, and how that Led to
his Election as President.
To the Editor Of the New York Trlbunei
S1R-Referring to paragraph which
recently appeared in the Tribune, IL is
deemed proper TO correct certain errors
therein regarding the part taken by Clark
Waggoner, as editor of the Toledo Com
mcrcidl in the nomination of the Republic
can candidate for Governor of Ohio in
1915. In the spring OF 1875, AZ by previ-
ous agreement, most of the Republican
journals OF the principal cities of the state
brought out Judge TAFT for the position.
The main alleged reason for such move
nent was that the views of that gentleman
in regard TO the public school system of
Ohio would command for him large vote
in the cities not TO be had for n candidate
with different views. After careful nves-
tigation, Mr. Waggoner became fully as
sured that the position OF Judge Taft in
queslloh, however it might be found in
the cities, 80 far from giving him strength
before the people Of the state, would proye
source of serious weakness, which could
not fail to become fatal TO his candidacy
and to the entire Republican ticket. And
80 viewing the case, Mr. Waggoner, against
the powerful combination OF leading Re.
publican journals OF the state, was con-
strained 10 withhold from Judge Taft the
support of the Commercial, and to insist up-
on the choice of candidate who could
unite the Republican vote IN his support
as the only means OF success.
Judge Taft's position was set forth in an
opinion delivered by him as Judge Of the
Superior Court OF Cincinnati in case
touching the use OF the Bible in the pub
lie schools Of that city. In submitting
his opinion on the point in issue-whether
or moi 1t was competent for the hoard of
education to exclude the Bible from the
schools-he held that the public school
system of the state imposed great injustice
upon the Catholics, who, TO quote Ills
Language, were constrained every wear 10
yield TO others their right TO one-third of
the school money-a sum averaging no,
less than 100000 every year-on consci.
en'ionS grounds. That is TO say, said
Judge Taft, "these people (the Catholics(
are punished every year for believing ms
they do TO the extent of 5000, 600; and To
that extent those of us who send our chill
dren TO these excellent schools become
beneiiciares Of the Catholic money.n II
should be borne IN mind that Mr.. Wag.
goner's objection to Judge Taft as can
dIdale was not based upon that gentle.
mans opinion MS 10 the Use of the B,bl.
in the schools; but chiefly ON his virtual
and emphatic demand that the Catholics
be no longer taxed Tor the support of
schools 10 which they should not see fit la
send their children.
Some time previous Ex-Governor Haves,
in published letter, had positively de-
clined third nomination for Governor
ana Tor that reason lie WAS not considered
available as candidate. NutwithstunJ.
ing such iact, Mr.. Waggoner, in his pa
per, insisted upon the nomination of that
gentleman us the only escape OF the Re
publican party from defeat, nj the same
lime insisting That ii called by the Re
publicans to become their standard bearer
thIrd time, he would not feel at liberty
TO decline. This suggestion was at once
accepted hy the Republican press and nc
tive Republicans outside the larger cities,
and an active movement for Ex-Governor
Hayes's nomination followed. The result
was reached in the nomination Of that
gentleman on the first ballot by vote of
more Than two to one over Judge Taft,
and IN his election in October following
The effect of this result upon the Repu6-
iicHns OF the country was electrical, and
operated al once to connect Governor
itnyes's name with the presidential can
didacy IN 1876. The rest is known. That
his selection MS candidate for President
was due 10 his election as Governor could
hard y be questioned; nor ia il prob ,ble
lh"t he would have been nominated for
the latter position, against his positive
deciinatlon, but for the vigorous action
by MIR, Waggoner. II may here be stated
that when The Republican convention mel
at Columbus, the Toledo Commercial, 50
lar us known, was The only Republican
daily paper in the state which advocated
Ihe nomination oil Ex-Governor HAYES.